German Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix rider Didier Grams poses with one of his younger fans
The carnival atmosphere which embraces the entire city of Macao during the annual Grand Prix officially got underway today (12 November) with the opening ceremony of the Macau GT Cup, Motorcycle Grand Prix and Classic Motorcycle Show at Tap Seac Square. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Government of the Macao SAR Government, Dr. Alexis Tam officiated at the opening ceremony. The ceremony was also be attended by members of Macau Grand Prix Organizing Committee. The show featured all the stunning GT racing cars competing in the SJM Macau GT Cup – FIA GT World Cup this year, the impressive two-wheel machines that will contest the Suncity Group Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix – 50th Edition, and a selection of classic motorcycles which are part of the celebrations for the Motorcycle Grand Prix’s Golden Jubilee. Countless residents and visitors took advantage of the chance to get an up-close preview of the awesome racing machinery that will be in action on the 6.2km Guia street circuit from November 17-20, and Tap Seac Square was abuzz with excitement. Special guest appearances included Michael Rutter, who has a record-setting eight Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix victories to his name, and 2015 winner Peter Hickman. The two Bathams/SMT Racing riders met their fans and signed autographs. Sportscar fans were given a golden opportunity to check out the jaw-dropping line-up of racing supercars, including the new Mercedes-AMG GT3 which will make its Macao debut with defending FIA GT World Cup champion Maro Engel this week, the Audi R8 LMS of “Mr. Macao” Edoardo Mortara, the Porsche 911 GT3 R (991) of 2015 Le Mans 24 Hour winner Earl Bamber, and local driver André Couto’s Lamborghini Huracán GT3. The Grand Prix’s many passionate two-wheel fans turned out to see the mighty superbikes that the world’s best road racers will wrestle between Macao’s steel Armco barriers, while the collection of classic motorcycles representing the more than five decades of history added to the spectacle. The Show at Tap Seac Square will conclude at 5pm tomorrow (13 November).
